WWS parent shares bullying story with school board

Members of the Westfield Washington Schools board of trustees heard from Michelle Wickham, a local parent smarting over multiple past bullying instances her daughter endured, at its Jan. 9 meeting.

Wickham said she withdrew her two youngest children from Westfield schools after hearing her daughter describe bullying actions that included unsolicited touches from a male student in a classroom with less than 10 students. Wickham said administrators told her and her husband no policies or procedures would be changed as a result of the incidences.

“I can’t convey the pain we have gone through trying to help her to overcome this very dramatic experience,” Wickham said during her presentation. You’re in a position of authority, and I am one parent. I don’t want my child’s experience to be forgotten or to be in vain. Layers of protection are worth nothing if they don’t actually work to protect my child from what’s happened.”

Although school board members aren’t required to respond when the audience addresses them at the end of a meeting, several members assured Wickham her concerns weren’t going unheard.

During her presentation, Wickham also encouraged parents to encourage their children that bullying is not acceptable, and if their students are being bullied, to continue to tell administrators until action is taken.

Other events happening during school board included the board appointing Dan Degnan as board president and approving a motion to transition from trimesters to quarters for grades 5-8. Visit youarecurrent.com to read a previous Current in Westfield article highlighting different aspects of the motion.